Two men, both previously known to law enforcement, have been remanded to prison for the murder of 24-year-old Faynell Brewster, who was fatally attacked during a robbery in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, earlier this week.
Charged with murder in the furtherance of a robbery are Akande Ross, a 25-year-old machine operator of Lot 1358 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, and Shaquille Wilburg, a 29-year-old resident of 14 Public Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Both appeared on Friday (October 24, 2025) before Principal Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court #2. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were remanded to prison until November 18, 2025, when the case will be called again.
In a related matter, Ross and 25-year-old Atelly Gonsalves of Morocut Square, East La Penitence — who was also arrested on 20 October — were charged with the offence of unlawful possession of ammunition without a licence. Gonsalves pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of G$300,000; Ross was remanded on that charge. The hearing for all matters has been adjourned until 18 November 2025.
Police investigators said the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the probe into Brewster’s killing, which occurred on Sunday at West Ruimveldt. CCTV footage from the Government’s Smart City Surveillance System proved crucial in cracking the case. According to police, the footage showed that prior to the deadly attack, the victim’s brother had been pursued by two men on a black Honda XR motorcycle. Investigators later traced the movements of the suspects before and after the incident, providing key leads that culminated in the arrests.
Following days of intelligence gathering, a targeted operation led by senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force was conducted at Morcourt Square, East La Penitence. During the operation, officers arrested Ross and Wilburg, along with a 25-year-old female vendor from the same area. A subsequent search unearthed 50 live 9mm rounds and the Honda XR motorcycle believed to have been used in the crime. The ammunition and motorcycle were seized and lodged as evidence.
Police said the arrests were the result of coordinated teamwork between the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Major Crimes Unit, and Intelligence Division, under the supervision of senior detectives.
Both Ross and Wilburg are well known to law enforcement.
In 2018, Wilburg was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to an armed robbery in which he stole $3.3 million from a businessman near the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) on Brickdam.
Meanwhile, in 2020, Ross was charged with robbery under arms in connection with a violent restaurant attack in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.